Long Live Rock 'n' Roll

Untitled

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll is the third studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1978.

Although Bob Daisley & David Stone are listed on the album credits for their contributions they joined the band part way through the recording sessions and only appear on a couple of tracks. (Stone part wrote "Gates of Babylon" but was never credited). Blackmore played most of the bass parts himself for the album.

"Kill the King" was already a staple part of the tour setlists, opening Rainbow concerts since mid-1976. It first appeared on the live album On Stage in 1977.

The original vinyl release was in a gatefold-sleeve, with a lyric-sheet insert. The crowd picture is actually from a Rush concert, with the wording on the banner the fans were actually holding replaced by the Rainbow album title.

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll was remastered on CD for the US market in April 1999, with the European version following later. The US version had a matte booklet/ insert, which matched the original vinyl sleeve for all markets, whereas the European issue was the standard glossy type.

In the 1977-78 live concerts the title track and "Kill the King" were the only songs performed, although "LA Connection" did get a few airings on the US tour before being dropped from the set.

This was Rainbow's last album to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals. He left to join Black Sabbath, and was replaced by Graham Bonnet.

Since 2004 Dio's solo shows have featured a live version of "Gates of Babylon."

Track listing

All songs written by Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore except where indicated.

Side one

1. "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" – 4:21
2. "Lady of the Lake" – 3:39
3. "L.A. Connection" – 5:02
4. "Gates of Babylon" – 6:49

Side two

1. "Kill the King" (Dio, Blackmore, Cozy Powell) – 4:29
2. "The Shed (Subtle)" (Dio, Blackmore, Powell) – 4:47
3. "Sensitive to Light" – 3:07
4. "Rainbow Eyes" – 7:11

Personnel

• Ronnie James Dio – vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – guitar/bass
• David Stone – keyboard
• Bob Daisley – bass
• Cozy Powell – drums
• Bavarian String Ensemble conducted by Rainer Pietsch on "Gates Of Babylon"
• Ferec Kiss & Nico Nicolicv – viola on "Rainbow Eyes"
• Karl Heinz Feit – cello on "Rainbow Eyes"
• Rudi Risavy & Max Hecker – flute on "Rainbow Eyes"

Singles

• 1978 - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll / Sensitive to Light
• 1978 - L.A. Connection / Lady of the Lake

These two singles were also re-released in the UK in July 1981.

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1978	Pop Albums	89

Covers

• Neo-classical metal musician Yngwie J. Malmsteen covered "Gates of Babylon" on his album "Inspiration".

• Thrash metal band Heathen covered "Kill the King" on their album Victims of Deception, as did bands Stratovarius, Liege Lord, Primal Fear, Grave Digger and others.

• German Power metal band Gamma Ray did a cover of "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" on the 2002 reissue of their album Power Plant.

• Fictitious metal band Steel Dragon also covered this song